Life as a Female Slave Under the Code of Hammurabi

I am a female slave, given into slavery for 4 years by my father, he owed a debt that he could not pay. A debt for grain that he was to pay back 3 fold. The debt collector would have taken what little we had and perhaps would have made father pay with his life if Hammurabi had not made a way for my family to cancel our debt in this way. It is only for 4 years, such a long time for so little a debt, but we are fortunate to have this option. I will be provided with the basic necessities for survival. I am counted as nothing more than property, or currency, for my Master. I am not considered human. I was formerly a member of the middle class, paupers that can farm. There are only three classes in our society, the wealthy, the poor, and the slaves. Now, I am a slave for the next four years. It is very common practice, so much so that even the poor have slaves. Our most common forms of currency are grain, silver, slaves, cattle, and livestock. As you can imagine, I am not alone in my experience in slavery. Many of my peers are or have been enslaved at least once in their lives. Both my mother and father were slaves at some point. Many female slaves usually end up with their Master for many more years than the 4 required by law. After 4 years, they are no longer slaves and are often in the same class as the man they have lived with. In our society many children are products of those relationships. Until the time of slavery is up, I must work off a debt. I am not permitted to deny my Master, or I could be punished. One such punishment could involve having my ears cut off. This is not very common. Many of us understand we are here to work and that we must be submissive to avoid conflict. As I mentioned we will be allowed the basic necessities, food and water, and protection from the environment if the weather is harsh. The laws of how I live as a female and as a slave are outlined in Hammurabi’s Code. Hammurabi is a fair and just man. I feel his laws are fair and just...

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Hammurabi began his rule of Babylon in 1795 B.C. He was a dignified prince who feared God. He became king at a young age but was ready to take on the challenge presented to him by Marduk. Hammurabi was to get rid of the evil and wicked, make it so the strong wouldn't harm the weak, enlighten land, and to carry on the welfare of mankind. He was referred to as "the favorite of the gods" even though he didn't consider himself related to god. He participated
2
in trade activities, repairing buildings, digging canals, and fighting in wars. Hammurabi was a successful government and military leader and warrior. He became well known for recording the first set of laws for his empire. The code was the first of many laws in Mesopotamia. In his later years, he had organized a unique code of laws more specific laws than...

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The form of the Code of Hammurabi is significant in the way that it is written. The simple language used to write the Code allowed the average member of Babylonian society to understand the expectations placed on them. Each of 282 laws was written separately with specific examples of indiscretions that were illegal, and the precise form of punishment that would occur. The Code also sets guidelines for the fees that were paid to doctors, veterinarians, shipbuilders, ferryboat operators, and to the owners of rented...

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“An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth,” represents a harsh sense of justice based on revenge. King Hammurabi made his laws this way to prevent crimes from happening. Once a person knew penalty of a crime the likelihood of the person committing a crime greatly decreased. Also, he wanted this all people were not viewed as equals. The punishments for the same crime committed by a free man versus a slave were incredibly harsher towards the slave. “If a man knocked out the tooth of a man that is equal his tooth shall be knocked out,” whereas if a slave had knocked out the tooth of a free man he would have to pay one third of mina of silver. King Hammurabi may have wanted...

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...The Code of Hammurabi
An eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. That is what the Code of Hammurabi is trying to get across. After reading the Code, all I could think about was "What if that is what the laws were like now in the United States?" I don't think that the people would act in the manner that they do now. I believe
that the codes would be useful in a way but they are also not very realistic if u really think about it.
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